ELKHART LAKE, WIS. (August 17, 2012) – Road America – often called “America’s National Park of Speed” - provides the teams and drivers of the American Le Mans Series many clear reminders of the importance of energy and the environment in modern motorsports competition as they arrive here in Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine region, August 18.
Surrounded by farms, popular tourist sites, and less than 30 minutes from the Lake Michigan shoreline, the links between energy efficiency, the environment and the economy are obvious.
“When we come to a place like Road America and see the rolling hills and farms, the lakes and how the local economy is so intertwined, we are reminded yet again of the importance of clean and efficient sources of energy and a clean environment,” said Silvia Mammone, Michelin motorsports manager.
Incongruous though it may initially appear, the “race within the race” that is the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge, now in its fourth season of competition as a feature of every ALMS race, plays an important role in accelerating the development of new energies and technologies and into that balance.
Created in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, SAE international and the sanctioning International Motor Sports Association, the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge helps manufacturers and energy providers develop innovations and technologies in the rigors of top-level competition.
In just its first 34 races, the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge awards, one for Prototypes and one for production-based GT cars have been won by 13 different car manufacturers racing on E10, E85R, Isobutanol and GTL diesel fuels.
Manufacturer winners include: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Ford, HPD Honda, Judd, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot and Porsche.
And winning isn’t the result of cruising through the ALMS race. Races range from two to 12 hours, with four hours on the docket here at Road America’s ultra-fast 4.08-mile circuit. A similar program is held at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and at each FIA World Endurance championship event.
To date, 28 of the 68 MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge winners to date, have also won their respective class in the race itself.
In addition to the traditional programs and a migration to E-85R cellulosic fuels, GTL turbo-diesels and the introduction of isobutanol, the sport has also the first Porsche flywheel, gasoline hybrids, the Toyota ultra-capacitor-gasoline-hybrid and the 2012 Le Mans winning Audi turbo-diesel flywheel hybrid. And ALMS is already exploring the introduction of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as the fuel for the ALMS Prototype Challenge class in 2013.
“The new technologies and energies are coming closer to market and the manufacturers and energy suppliers are proving out those technologies in the MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge,” said Mammone.
PREVIOUS MICHELIN® GREEN X® CHALLENGE ROAD AMERICA WINNERS
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YEAR
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CLASS
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WIN (Manufacturer/Team/Car/Drivers)
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2011
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Prototype
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Aston Martin Lola – Muscle Milk Aston Martin – AM Lola Coupe B08/62 – Luhr/Graf
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2011
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GT
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Chevrolet – Corvette Racing – Corvette C6.R – Magnussen/Gavin
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2010
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Prototype
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Lola/Judd – Drayson Racing- Lola Judd Coupe – Pirro/Cocker
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2010
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GT
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Porsche – Team Falken – Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – Henzler/Sellers
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2009
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Prototype
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Acura – Lowe’s Fernandez Racing – Acura ARX-01b – Fernandez/Diaz
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2009
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GT
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Chevrolet – Corvette Racing – Corvette C6.R – O’Connell/Magnussen
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ABOUT THE MICHELIN® GREEN X® CHALLENGE
The American Le Mans Series is the only series currently recognized as “Green Racing” by the U. S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and SAE International.
In 2010, the season-ending Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta marked the first time that all five energy sources identified in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy policy were represented in competition. The five energies are E10 ethanol-blended gasoline, E85R second-generation cellulosic ethanol, GTL (natural gas to liquid) biodiesel, E10-electric hybrid power and Iso-butanol gasoline.
The MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge trophies are presented to the respective Prototype and GT winners. The bases for the unique MICHELIN GREEN X Challenge trophies are made of rubber recycled from MICHELIN GREEN X labeled consumer tires.
ABOUT MICHELIN® GREEN X® TIRES
MICHELIN GREEN X labeled consumer tires are optimized for fuel economy by reducing their rolling resistance and weight without compromising other key performance factors such as traction, grip and tread wear. Each tire is marked with Michelin’s “GREEN X” symbol on the sidewall, indicating to consumers a level of energy-efficiency that reduces CO2 emissions.
For over 20 years, Michelinhas been dedicated to the research and development of energy-efficient tires and now, a complete line of fuel-efficient tires is available to fit the most immediate consumer needs. Please visit www.michelinman.com for a complete list.
For more information, visit www.michelinmedia.com or contact:
Lynne Fowler John Love
MichelinNorth America EMC Strategic Communications
office: 1 864 458 6365 office: 1 248 816 0106
mobile: 1 864 561 9914 mobile: 1 313 506 2114
lynne.fowler@us.michelin.com john@emcstrategic.com